Chapter 20
917 Words
Down came the Batman and Superman posters and up went action shots of my hockey heroes. It worked out well because it was Theo and Scotty’s favorite sport, too. Knox, Jase, and Troy also followed us into it.
Coach gives Jack a little mention at the team huddle and then we hit the gym to complete a few circuits. Gunner, Adam, and Callan take turns putting Jack through his paces, and then I take a really quick shower and we’re off.
As we drive to Vivi’s apartment, I explain to Jack that we’ll be meeting up with Sia’s friend to show her around. We pull up a little late but see her just stepping off the elevator. I jump out and walk around the front of the car, but falter in my step as she gets closer.
Her light blonde hair is pushed over one shoulder and she’s wearing a long pale blue dress that swishes as she walks, giving little glimpses of her gold-sandaled feet. She’s wearing thick-framed sunglasses and bright red lipstick.
Fuck me, she’s stunning.
“Hiya,” she says shyly and I give her a smile.
“So, plans have changed slightly. Jack’s school is closed, so I’m babysitting. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay. Hiya, Mate,” she says as I open the door for her.
Jack lifts his sunglasses up and offers a greeting.
“Hello. You’re Uncle Theo and Sia’s friend?”
“That’s right, I saw you at the Wolves game on Saturday,” she replies. “I’m new here, so thank you for showing me around.”
He studies her.
“You didn’t live here already? You don’t know places to go?”
“No, I wouldn’t know where to start,” she answers.
A look comes over his face and I know exactly what’s coming next. The plans I had made for us are now definitely out the window. I close the door and jump back in the driver’s side.
“Damien, we need to take her to the museum. Right. Now.”
He turns back to Vivi, eyes as big as saucers.
“It comes alive, you know? At night. ALIVE!”
She giggles and feigns shock.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, we have to go.”
He looks at me with pleading eyes.
“Okay then, but we need to eat first. I won’t last.”
I try not to get distracted as the scent of her perfume fills the car. It’s summery and sweet, but there’s a hint of something I can’t place that reminds me of being at the beach.
They both nod and I drive toward my favorite pizza shop. When we get there, we order a large meal and I also eat twenty chicken wings. It’s not ideal for me to eat a lunch like this, but it’s Vivi’s—and now Jack’s—day. I’ll get some laps done in the pool later tonight. Plus, pizza is my absolute favorite.
After lunch, we park the car not too far from our afternoon destination and Jack all but runs up the 100-year-old steps. Once at the top, he declares that he will be our tour guide. It’s really quiet, due to it being a weekday, but I get stopped by a kid who recognizes me and takes the time to talk with him.
He plays hockey, too, so I give him a good “if you practice really hard, study hard, and believe in yourself” speech and leave him with a few selfies on his mom’s phone and his now-signed ballcap that he pulled off his head and is clutching for dear life. Vivi watches the whole scene unfold, but I don’t really know what she’s thinking. She doesn’t seem upset with the interruption and chats with Jack while they wait.
There is so much I want to figure out about her. Find out about her. What sort of job is she looking for?
How does she take her coffee? What do her lips taste like?
Stop.
She’s been through so much; I’m not overstepping—yet.
We’re starting at friendship and then hopefully will continue onwards, but I definitely will not be friend-zoned.
Theo was right. What she went through is enough suffering for a whole lifetime, let alone one night. She needs time to settle, but I can’t help staring at those lips. They’re so full and look so soft. Her bottom lip looks a little swollen on one side. I’m intrigued.
Jack pulls me out of my daze when it’s time to pay and I see Vivi reaching for her purse. I step up beside her, gently touching her arm, and insist on buying the tickets. She argues some because I also paid the check at lunch, but there’s no way she will ever pay for a single thing in my company.
“A boy always pays for a girl, Vivienne. It’s a big rule between us guys,” Jack says confidently.
She side-eyes me and smiles.
“Is that so?”
“It is,” he adamantly replies.
“Well, the way I see it is that Damien was kind enough to buy us our lunch, so it’s only fair I get the tickets. It makes things equal.”
“Maybe you can get us a treat at the end of all our discovering,” I interject.
She won’t, but she doesn’t need to know this is non-negotiable right now.
- Writer
